29/11/2002
New Code Of Conduct Against Spread Of Ballistic Missiles

The conference launching an international code of conduct against the proliferation of ballistic missiles was held at The Hague on 25th November. European Affairs Minister Noëlle Lenoir led the French delegation

The rise in ballistic proliferation throughout the world, along with that of weapons of mass destruction that may use missiles as their vectors, is prompting growing concern among the international community. That is why the EU, at France's behest, proposed on July 2001 to begin developing a universal instrument to provide for transparency in an area without international rules of a general nature.

France hosted the first meeting on this topic in February 2002.

The text adopted in The Hague includes political commitments to limit the proliferation of ballistic missile systems that could serve as vectors for weapons of mass destruction. It provides for measures of trust and transparency with regard to ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles.

This Code of Conduct marks the beginning of a process and remains open to
all nations who would like to sign on. It represents an innovative approach to disarmament and non proliferation.

The International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation, as a voluntary, non-legally binding instrument, "is a positive step towards preventing the proliferation of ballistic missiles and towards international peace and security," said the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, in a statement issued by a UN spokesman in New York.